title: The effects of suplatast tosilate treatment and prophylaxis on lung histopathology in a mouse model of chronic asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suplatast tosilate is a medication that inhibits TH2-type cytokines. We aimed to investigate the effects of suplatast tosilate treatment and prophylaxis on lung histopathology and cytokine levels in a mouse model of chronic asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two BALB/c mice were divided into 6 groups: group I (control), group II (vehicle control), group III (dexamethasone), group IV (prophylaxis with suplatast tosilate), group V (treatment with suplatast tosilate), and group VI (prophylaxis and treatment with suplatast tosilate). All of the groups, except for the control and vehicle control groups, were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin. The mice in the study groups, except those in the group receiving suplatast tosilate for prophylaxis only, were treated with study drugs. After the mice were killed, IL-4, IL-5, and interferon-γ levels were quantified in the lung tissue, which were examined histologically by light and electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant improvements in all histopathological parameters in the group treated with suplatast tosilate compared with the vehicle control group. Similar improvements were observed when the group receiving prophylaxis and treatment with suplatast tosilate was compared with the vehicle control as well. There were no significant differences between the group receiving only prophylaxis with suplatast tosilate and the vehicle control group. Cytokine levels were significantly higher in the vehicle control group when compared with the control group. Although all of the groups had lower cytokine levels than those of the vehicle control group, the differences were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with suplatast tosilate was effective in improving all histopathological parameters in a mouse model of chronic asthma. It was observed that the use of prophylactic suplatast tosilate was ineffective and had no additional effects when administered together with treatment.
authors.affiliation: From the *Division of Allergy, Department of Pediatrics, †Department of Multidisciplinary Laboratory, and ‡Department of Histology and Embryology, Dokuz Eylul University Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tuba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tuncel
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karaman
authors.forename: Zeynep Arkan
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Ayyildiz
authors.forename: Pinar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.forename: Muge
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiray
authors.forename: Alper H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Bagriyanik
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Ozkan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karaman
authors.forename: Nevin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uzuner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001190:Arylsulfonates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013452:Sulfonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001190:Arylsulfonates; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D013452:Sulfonium Compounds; C073028:suplatast tosilate